Saint John council has approved additional spending for the public space upgrades at Market Slip.

Council voted this week to increase the contract value of one of the tenders from $15.4 million to $16.3 million.

The roughly $887,000 increase will cover the added scope of work for an HVAC, mechanical and electrical system for the enclosed patios.

“As the design for an HVAC, mechanical, and electrical system for the enclosed patios was not completed at the time of the original tender, this work was not included in the awarded contract,” said a staff report.

The initial vision was to have open-air patios that could only be used in the summer, but staff later decided to install year-round glassed-in patios.

According to staff, the projected shortfall is proposed to be addressed by funding from the city’s capital reserve.

“A comprehensive review of the overall funding for the Market Slip and Fundy Quay projects is being undertaken and it is expected that a report will be before Council in the coming months to update Council on overall costs for the project,” said the report.

The patios are scheduled to be completed in April, just in time for the summer patio season.